Iran shifts to crypto payments to bypass banking limits
Iran is increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies to keep trade flowing after U.S. pressure and constrained banking made traditional cross-border payments harder. The central bank relaxed currency controls so exporters can receive Tether (USDT) and bitcoin through Iranian exchanges, offering an alternative to mandatory repatriation that left over 20,000 entities owing about €94 billion. TRM Labs data show Iranian-linked crypto activity fell from $11.4 billion in 2024 to about $9.9 billion in 2025, with four exchanges handling $7.7 billion and USDT on TRON dominating; freezes, sanctions and connectivity cuts have since reduced monthly inflows sharply.
Exporters may settle obligations with USDT and bitcoin
Context
U.S. pressure and limited banking access prompted the shift to crypto. The central bank eased controls so exporters can accept USDT and bitcoin. Next, enforcement or recovery of volumes could show whether crypto rails hold up.
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